1. In general all Mini-DV cassettes manufactured by brand name
companies (Panasonic, Sony, etc.) are going to make a reliable
product. Please read the following quote for a more detail answer:
"What is the difference in tape from the different professional tape manufacturers?
In some cases none, in other cases there are some. When a tape
manufacturer licenses a format from the hardware maker, e.g. Fuji
licenses the right to make Beta SP tape, Fuji has to make the tape
within the performance specifications of the hardware as provided by
Sony. If not, they would lose the right to make the tape. So all tape
is 'pretty good'. Tape Manufacturers can make the tape much better
than the specs, if they choose to. In other cases, consistency is the
name of the game. All manufacturers occasionally have a bad batch.
Consistently good product is what to look for."
The main differences are going to be in choosing a specific grade
of mini-DV cassette. Most manufacturers create both consumer grade
and professional grade cassettes; with professional grade ones being
of higher quality. Within those two categories there are manufacturer
specific differences. Sony for example makes both a Premium and an
Excellence series cassette, the Excellence series being a higher
quality tape. In general if you stick with one tape brand, and use a
head cleaner regularly you will see long lasting quality among your
film and equipment.
2. Sony and Panasonic are the two leading brands for professional
quality Mini-DV cassettes. If you are planning on using 100+ tapes
per week I would recommend going with the most cost effect solution,
which I feel would be:
AY-DVM63PQ Panasonic Mini DV Tape Professional 63 Minute
AY-DVMCLA Panasonic Mini DV Tape Cleaner
If price is no option you might want to consider moving to a DVCAM
format, but you will need to check your current equipment to see if it
is compatible. If not it would require the cost to upgrade your
equipment as well as the increased cost of the more expensive DVCAM
cassettes. If you decide to go this route I would make sure to look
into alternate formats to ensure there is not a more cost effective
yet comparable quality medium to switch to.
3. The best price I could find for bulk ordering of the Panasonic
tapes recommended above was here:
http://www.tapestockonline.com/pan63minprof.html , for the following
prices:
1 - 9 $3.99 ea.
10 - 49 $3.85 ea.
50 - 99 $3.74 ea.
100 - 249 $3.61 ea.
250 - 499 $3.47 ea.
500 - 999 $3.34 ea.
1000+ $3.26 ea.
***As always you should check your the documentation that came with
your equipment to ensure compatibility.
I have found a few websites that will help to explain some of the many
manufacturer specific differences between various Mini-DV cassettes
and compatible media. These websites are:
http://www.taperesources.com/mini_dv_tapes.html
http://www.dvcreators.net/discuss/archive/index.php/t-5132.html |
